5. (n.) To be anxious or solicitous; to be concerned; to have regard or interest; -- sometimes followed by an objective of measure.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

CARE; CAREFULNESS; CAREFUL

kar, kar'-fool-ness, kar'-fool: The English word "care" has such a variety of meanings, and so many Hebrew and Greek words in the Bible are translated by this English expression and its compounds, that it is difficult to organize them into a single brief article. We may do so, however, by remembering that into our word are really woven two strands, one Teutonic and one Latin. The former element implies a measure of trouble or sorrow, as the pain from a blow, a throb, a distress in the mind; the latter, from Latin cura, implies a stretching forward, attention to some person or thing. We can often discern these two senses side by side in the Bible, and sometimes they almost run into one another. This is so especially in the King James Version. We can treat the subject best by keeping separate, as far as possible, these two senses.

I. In the Sense of Anxiety, Solicitude.

1. Substantives:

In the Old Testament several words are translated "care" in this sense. "Thy father hath left off caring for the asses," concern about them literally, "matters of the asses" (dibhre, 1 Samuel 10:2). "They shall eat bread by weight, and with care" (de'-aghah, "carefulness" the Revised Version (British and American); "fearfulness" the American Standard Revised Version, Ezekiel 4:16). The same word is rendered carefulness (the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American); "fearfulness," the American Standard Revised Version, Ezekiel 12:18-19); and "fear" (King James Version; "carefulness," the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version, Joshua 22:24). Again, "heaviness" (the Kings James Version; the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version), but "care" (the Revised Version, margin and the American Revised Version, margin, Proverbs 12:25). Once more, "sorrow" (the King James Version, the Revised with Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version), but "care" (the Revised Version, margin and the American Revised Version, margin, Jeremiah 49:23). There is also the word charadhah "trembling," "fear," "anxiety." It is rendered "trembling" (Genesis 27:33 the King James Version). But "thou hast been careful for us all this care" ("showed us all this reverence," the Revised Version, margin, the American Revised Version, margin, 2 Kings 4:13). In the New Testament, "care," in the sense of anxiety, is the meaning given to merimna, the condition of being drawn mentally in different directions, distraction of mind. "Care of the world" (Matthew 13:22Mark 4:19Luke 8:14, "cares of this life," Luke 21:34); "care of all the churches" (2 Corinthians 11:28) ("anxiety," the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version); "casting all your care upon him" ("anxiety," the Revised Version (British and American), the American Standard Revised Version, 1 Peter 5:7). Also in the Apocrypha, "My heart faileth for care" (1 Maccabees 6:10); "Care bringeth old age before the time" (Sirach 30:24). To these may be added the adjective amerimnos, "I would have you without carefulness" (King James Version; "free from cares," the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version, 1 Corinthians 7:32).

2. Verbs:

In the Old Testament (da'agh, "to have concern or anxiety for"). "Not be careful in the year of drought" (Jeremiah 17:8). (sum lebh, "to set the heart upon"), "If we flee away, they will not care for us" ("set their heart upon us" King James Version, margin, 2 Samuel 18:3).

In the New Testament (memrinao), "Thou art careful and troubled" ("anxious" the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version, Luke 10:41). "He that is unmarried careth for things that belong to the Lord" ("is careful for," the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version, 1 Corinthians 7:32-34). "Members should have the same care one for another" (1 Corinthians 12:25). "Who will naturally care (the American Standard Revised Version "care truly") for your state" (Philippians 2:20). "Be careful for nothing" ("in nothing be anxious," the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version, Philippians 4:6). The Apocrypha has "careful" (Baruch 3:18) and the Revised Version (British and American) has "be not careful overmuch," where a distinction is plainly made between care in the sense of anxiety and of attention, for a person cannot be too attentive, but he may be too anxious (2 Esdras 2:27).

The impersonal verb (melei), though not quite so strong as merimnao, always implies a degree of concern higher than is felt in mere attention. "Carest thou not that we perish?" (Mark 4:38). "Carest not for anyone" (the King James Version "no man," Matthew 22:16Mark 12:14). "Dost thou not care that my sister did leave me to serve alone?" (Luke 10:40). "Careth not for the sheep" (John 10:13). "Cared for the poor" (John 12:6). "Gallio cared for none of these things" (Acts 18:17). "Care not for it" (1 Corinthians 7:21). "He careth for you" (1 Peter 5:7). "Doth God care for oxen?" (better, "Is it for the oxen that God careth?" the Revised Version (British and American) and the American Standard Revised Version, 1 Corinthians 9:9).

II. In the Sense of Attention.

1. Substantives:

In the sense of attention, with the flavor of earnestness added from the original Teutonic meaning of the word care, we have the translation of spoude, "speed," "earnest care." "What carefulness it wrought in you" ("earnest care," the Revised Version (British and American), the American Standard Revised Version, 2 Corinthians 7:11). "Our care for you in the sight of God" ("earnest care," the Revised Version (British and American), the American Standard Revised Version, 2 Corinthians 7:12). "Put the same care into the heart of Titus" ("earnest care," the Revised Version (British and American), the American Standard Revised Version, 2 Corinthians 8:16). We have also phronein, the infin. used as a substantive "Your care for me hath flourished" ("thought," the Revised Version (British and American), the American Standard Revised Version, Philippians 4:10). Also phrontis, "thought" ("care" the American Standard Revised Version, The Wisdom of Solomon 6:17; 7:4).

2. Verbs:

"A land which Yahweh thy God careth for" darash, "seek after" ("seeketh after," the Revised Version, margin, the American Revised Version, margin, Deuteronomy 11:12). "No man careth for my soul" ("sought" King James Versions margin, Psalm 142:4; chashach). "We are not careful to answer" (King James Version, also compare the margin, the American Revised Version, margin; "We have no need to answer," the Revised Version (British and American), the American Standard Revised Version, Daniel 3:16). In the New Testament epimeleomai, "Take care of him" (Luke 10:34, 35). "How shall he take care of the church of God?" (1 Timothy 3:5). phrontizo, "to be thoughtful or mindful of," "may be careful to maintain good works" (1 Timothy 3:8).

G. H. Trever

Greek

3199. melo -- to be an object of care... to be an object of care. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: melo Phonetic Spelling: (mel'-o) Short Definition: it is a care, it concerns Definition: it is a ...//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3199.htm - 7k

1959. epimeleomai -- to take care of... to take care of. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: epimeleomai Phonetic Spelling: (ep-ee-mel-eh'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I take care of, attend to ...//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1959.htm - 6k

On Care to Be Had for the Dead.On Care to Be Had for the Dead. . On Care to Be Had for the Dead. St. Augustine. Rev. H. Browne, MA Table of Contents. Title Page. ...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/on care to be had for the dead /

Have a Care.... HAVE A CARE. The world has many gaudy wings" Have a care! ... Beware Of the hidden poisonous stings. Earth's pleasures are a golden cup" Have a care! .../.../orr/food for the lambs or helps for young christians/have a care.htm

The Care of the Soul Urged as the one Thing Needful... The Care of the Soul Urged as the One Thing Needful. Luke ... too. "Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? .../.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/the care of the soul.htm

Freedom from Care.... IV. COMFORT. Hymn 55 Freedom from care. John Newton 7,7,7,7. Freedom from care. While I lived without the Lord,. (If I might be said to live). ...//christianbookshelf.org/newton/olney hymns/hymn 55 freedom from care.htm

That all Care is to be Cast Upon God... ON INWARD CONSOLATION CHAPTER XVII That all care is to be cast upon God. ... Greater is Thy care for me than all the care which I am able to take for myself. .../.../kempis/imitation of christ/chapter xvii that all care.htm

Care of the Speaker's Throat...CARE OF THE SPEAKER'S THROAT. The throat as a vital part of the public speaker's work in speaking is worthy of the greatest care and consideration. .../.../christianbookshelf.org/kleiser/talks on talking/care of the speakers throat.htm

Tricked (25 Occurrences)... the male children in Beth-lehem and in all the parts round about it, from two years old and under, acting on the knowledge which he had got with care from the .../t/tricked.htm - 13k

Vines (39 Occurrences)... payment? who puts in vines and does not take the fruit of them? or who takes care of sheep without drinking of their milk? (BBE). .../v/vines.htm - 18k

Bible Concordance

Care (466 Occurrences)

Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, finding that the Magi had trifled with him, was furious, and sent and massacred all the boys under two years of age, in Bethlehem and all its neighbourhood, according to the date he had so carefully ascertained from the Magi.(Root in WEY BBE)

Matthew 4:6 If you are the Son of God, let yourself go down; for it is in the Writings, He will give his angels care over you; and, In their hands they will keep you up, so that your foot may not be crushed against a stone.(BBE)

Matthew 4:11 Then the Evil One went away from him, and angels came and took care of him.(BBE)

Matthew 6:1 "Be careful that you don't do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.(Root in WEB BBE NIV)

Matthew 6:27 But which of you by carefulness can add to his growth one cubit? (Root in DBY WBS)

Matthew 6:31 Then do not be full of care, saying, What are we to have for food or drink? or, With what may we be clothed?(BBE DBY)

Matthew 6:33 But let your first care be for his kingdom and his righteousness; and all these other things will be given to you in addition. (BBE)

Matthew 6:34 Do not be over-anxious, therefore, about to-morrow, for to-morrow will bring its own cares. Enough for each day are its own troubles.(Root in WEY BBE DBY NAS)

Matthew 8:15 And he put his hand on hers and the disease went from her, and she got up and took care of his needs.(BBE)

Matthew 8:22 But Jesus said to him, Come after me; and let the dead take care of their dead.(BBE)

Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all you who are troubled and weighted down with care, and I will give you rest.(BBE)

Matthew 13:22 What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS RSV)

Matthew 16:6 And Jesus said to them, Take care to have nothing to do with the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.(BBE NIV)

Matthew 22:16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.(Root in KJV ASV DBY WBS RSV)

Matthew 24:39 And they had no care till the waters came and took them all away; so will be the coming of the Son of man. (BBE)

Matthew 25:14 "Why, it is like a man who, when going on his travels, called his bondservants and entrusted his property to their care.(WEY)

Matthew 25:20 And he who had the five talents came with his other five talents, saying, Lord, you gave into my care five talents: see, I have got five more.(BBE)

Matthew 25:22 And he who had the two talents came and said, Lord, you gave into my care two talents: see, I have got two more.(BBE)

Matthew 25:44 Then will they make answer, saying, Lord, when did we see you in need of food or drink, or wandering, or without clothing, or ill, or in prison, and did not take care of you?(BBE NAS)

Matthew 27:55 Many women were there watching from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, serving him.(See NIV)

Matthew 28:14 And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and rid you of care.(ASV)

Mark 1:13 And he was in the waste land for forty days, being tested by Satan; and he was with the beasts; and the angels took care of him.(BBE)

Mark 1:31 And he came and took her by the hand, lifting her up; and she became well, and took care of their needs.(BBE)

Mark 4:24 He also said to them, "Take care what you hear. With what measure you measure, it will be measured to you, and that with interest.(WEY BBE NAS NIV)

Mark 4:38 He himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke him up, and told him, "Teacher, don't you care that we are dying?"(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Mark 5:26 and had suffered many things by many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better, but rather grew worse,(See NIV)

Mark 7:3 Now the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not take food without washing their hands with care, keeping the old rule which has been handed down to them:(ASV YLT)

Mark 8:15 And he said to them, Take care to be on the watch against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.(BBE NIV)

Mark 12:14 And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?(Root in KJV ASV DBY WBS RSV)

Mark 13:5 Jesus, answering, began to tell them, "Be careful that no one leads you astray.(Root in WEB WEY BBE)

Mark 13:9 But take care: for they will give you up to the Sanhedrins; and in Synagogues you will be whipped; and you will be taken before rulers and kings because of me, for a sign to them.(BBE)

Mark 13:23 But take care; see, I have made all things clear to you before the time.(BBE)

Mark 13:33 Take care, be on the alert, and pray; for you do not know when it will happen.(WEY BBE)

Mark 15:41 all of whom in the Galilaean days had habitually been with Him and cared for Him, as well as many other women who had come up to Jerusalem with Him.(Root in WEY BBE NIV)

Luke 1:3 it has seemed right to me also, after careful investigation of the facts from their commencement, to write for you, most noble Theophilus, a connected account,(Root in WEY BBE NAS NIV)

Luke 4:10 He will give his angels orders to take care of you: (BBE NIV)

Luke 4:39 He went near her, and with a sharp word he gave orders to the disease and it went away from her; and straight away she got up and took care of their needs.(BBE)

Luke 8:18 Be careful therefore how you hear. For whoever has, to him will be given; and whoever doesn't have, from him will be taken away even that which he thinks he has."(Root in WEB WEY BBE NAS NIV)

Luke 8:34 And when the men who took care of them saw what had come about, they went quickly and gave news of it in the town and the country.(BBE)

Luke 9:60 But he said to him, Let the dead take care of their dead; it is for you to go and give news of the kingdom of God.(BBE)

Luke 10:34 came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 10:35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the host, and said to him,'Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.'(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Luke 10:40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she came up to him, and said, "Lord, don't you care that my sister left me to serve alone? Ask her therefore to help me."(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 10:41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:(Root in KJV BBE DBY)

Luke 11:35 So take care that the light which is in you is not dark. (BBE RSV)

Luke 12:15 And to the people He said, "Take care, be on your guard against all covetousness, for no one's life consists in the superabundance of his possessions."(WEY BBE)

Luke 12:22 Then turning to His disciples He said, "For this reason I say to you, 'Dismiss all anxious care for your lives, inquiring what you are to eat, and for your bodies, what you are to put on.'(WEY DBY)

Luke 12:31 But let your chief care be for his kingdom, and these other things will be given to you in addition.(BBE)

Luke 12:48 But he who, without knowledge, did things for which punishment is given, will get only a small number of blows. The man to whom much is given, will have to give much; if much is given into his care, of him more will be requested.(BBE)

Luke 15:8 "Or what woman who has ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully till she finds it?(Root in WEY BBE DBY YLT NAS NIV)

Luke 16:12 And if you have not been true in your care of the property of other people, who will give you that which is yours?(BBE)

Luke 16:15 And he said, You take care to seem right in the eyes of men, but God sees your hearts: and those things which are important in the opinion of men, are evil in the eyes of God.(BBE)

Luke 18:4 He wouldn't for a while, but afterward he said to himself,'Though I neither fear God, nor respect man,(See NIV)

Luke 21:8 And he said, Take care that you are not tricked: for a number of people will come in my name, saying, I am he; and, The time is near: do not go after them.(BBE)

Luke 21:14 So take care not to be troubled before the time comes, about what answers you will give:(BBE)

John 10:13 The hired hand flees because he is a hired hand, and doesn't care for the sheep.(WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS RSV NIV)

John 12:25 He who is in love with life will have it taken from him; and he who has no care for his life in this world will keep it for ever and ever. (BBE)

John 17:12 While I was with them I kept them safe in your name which you have given to me: I took care of them and not one of them has come to destruction, but only the son of destruction, so that the Writings might come true.(BBE)

John 21:16 Again, a second time, he said to him, Simon, son of John, have you any love for me? Yes, Lord, he said, you are certain of my love for you. Then take care of my sheep, said Jesus.(BBE NIV)

Acts 5:35 He said to them, "You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do.(Root in WEB WEY BBE NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 6:1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was increasing, protests were made by the Greek Jews against the Hebrews, because their widows were not taken care of in the distribution of food every day.(BBE)

Acts 7:58 dragged him out of the city, and stoned him, the witnesses throwing off their outer garments and giving them into the care of a young man called Saul.(WEY)

Acts 9:34 Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed!" Immediately he arose.(See NIV)

Acts 12:4 He had him arrested and lodged in jail, handing him over to the care of sixteen soldiers; and intended after the Passover to bring him out again to the people.(WEY)

Acts 13:40 So take care that these words of the prophets do not come true for you; (BBE NIV)

Acts 14:23 And when they had made selection of some to be rulers in every church, and had given themselves to prayer and kept themselves from food, they put them into the care of the Lord in whom they had faith.(BBE)

Acts 18:17 Then all the Greeks laid hold on Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. Gallio didn't care about any of these things.(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

Acts 20:28 Give attention to yourselves, and to all the flock which the Holy Spirit has given into your care, to give food to the church of God, for which he gave his blood.(BBE RSV)

Acts 20:32 And now, I give you into the care of God and the word of his grace, which is able to make you strong and to give you your heritage among all the saints.(BBE)

Acts 24:23 He ordered the centurion that Paul should be kept in custody, and should have some privileges, and not to forbid any of his friends to serve him or to visit him.(See NIV)

Acts 25:20 I was at a loss how to investigate such questions, and asked Paul whether he would care to go to Jerusalem and there stand his trial on these matters.(WEY)

Acts 27:1 And when the decision had been made that we were to go by sea to Italy, they gave Paul and certain other prisoners into the care of a captain named Julius, of the Augustan band.(BBE)

Acts 27:3 The next day we put in at Sidon. There Julius treated Paul with thoughtful kindness and allowed him to visit his friends and profit by their generous care. (WEY YLT NAS RSV)

Romans 13:6 For the same reason, make payment of taxes; because the authority is God's servant, to take care of such things at all times.(BBE)

Romans 14:15 If your brother is pained by the food you are eating, your conduct is no longer controlled by love. Take care lest, by the food you eat, you lead to ruin a man for whom Christ died.(WEY)

1 Corinthians 3:10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each man be careful how he builds on it.(Root in WEB WEY BBE NAS RSV NIV)

1 Corinthians 7:21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.(KJV ASV WBS)

1 Corinthians 7:32 But I desire to have you to be free from cares. He who is unmarried is concerned for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;(Root in WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS)

1 Corinthians 8:9 But be careful that by no means does this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to the weak. (Root in WEB WEY BBE NAS RSV NIV)

1 Corinthians 9:7 Who ever goes to war without looking to someone to be responsible for his payment? who puts in vines and does not take the fruit of them? or who takes care of sheep without drinking of their milk? (BBE)

1 Corinthians 9:9 For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain." Is it for the oxen that God cares,(Root in WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT)

1 Corinthians 12:24 But those parts of the body which are beautiful have no need of such care: and so the body has been joined together by God in such a way as to give more honour to those parts which had need of it; (BBE)

1 Corinthians 12:25 that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.(WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE WBS NAS RSV)

2 Corinthians 5:4 For truly, we who are in this tent do give out cries of weariness, for the weight of care which is on us; not because we are desiring to be free from the body, but so that we may have our new body, and death may be overcome by life.(BBE)

2 Corinthians 7:7 And not by his coming only, but by the comfort which he had in you, while he gave us word of your desire, your sorrow, your care for me; so that I was still more glad.(BBE)

2 Corinthians 7:11 For behold, this same thing, that you were made sorry in a godly way, what earnest care it worked in you. Yes, what defense, indignation, fear, longing, zeal, and vengeance! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be pure in the matter.(WEB KJV ASV BBE WBS)

2 Corinthians 7:12 So although I wrote to you, I wrote not for his cause that did the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered the wrong, but that your earnest care for us might be revealed in you in the sight of God.(WEB KJV ASV BBE WBS)

2 Corinthians 8:16 But thanks be to God, who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.(WEB KJV ASV BBE WBS RSV)

2 Corinthians 9:10 And he who gives seed for putting into the field and bread for food, will take care of the growth of your seed, at the same time increasing the fruits of your righteousness;(BBE)

2 Corinthians 9:12 For this work of giving not only takes care of the needs of the saints, but is the cause of much praise to God;(BBE)

2 Corinthians 11:2 For I have a very great care for you: because you have been married by me to one husband, and it is my desire to give you completely holy to Christ.(BBE)

2 Corinthians 11:28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.(KJV BBE DBY WBS YLT)

Galatians 5:15 But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don't consume one another.(Root in WEB BBE NAS)

Ephesians 1:8 Which he gave us in full measure in all wisdom and care; (BBE)

Ephesians 4:3 Taking care to keep the harmony of the Spirit in the yoke of peace. (BBE)

Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some as Apostles, and some, prophets; and some, preachers of the good news; and some to give care and teaching;(BBE)

Ephesians 5:15 Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise;(Root in WEB WEY ASV BBE DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Ephesians 5:29 For no man ever had hate for his flesh; but he gives it food and takes care of it, even as Christ does for the church;(BBE NIV)